The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-26
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


John G. Carlisle Tells What Democracy
Has Done for the Country and Why It
Should Be Continued in Power-An Able
Document Based Upon History and Facts
Within tho Recollection of Every Intel
Hssnt Reader.
Hon. John G. Carlisle, Speaker of
the House of Representatives for two
terms, contributes an able article on
the continuance of Democratic RULE
to recent issue of Che Forum, from
which we quote as follows:
In undertaking to state some Of the reasons
why the Democratic party should be continues
In power, it is necessary, in the first instance,
to call attention to the difference of opinion be.
tween the two existing parties concerning the
nature and extent OF the Federal power under
the constitution, because it is manifest that
their administration of public affairs must be
greatly Influenced by their respective views
upon this fundamental question. This differ
ence OF opinion has existed continuously since
the organization of the Government, and has
always constituted, as it still does. the most
clearly defined line of separation between po-
litical parties in this country. It would have
been reasonable to suppose that after nearly
hundred years of practical administration OF
the Government under the constitution, after
repeated decisions Of the question by the high
est judicial tribunals, and after the thorough
and able discussions that have taken place at
every stage of the controversy, the relations
between the several States and their people
and the Government of the United States
would be well understood, and their separate
rights and powers fully recognized by all par
ties. Such, however, is not the case. In
theory and practice the Republican
party Of to-day is more extravagant In its as
ser ton of what it calls National author
ity' than its Federalist progenitor was a
century ago. During the short period between
the close Of the war and the year 1875, while 1t
controlled the legislation in Congress, 1t passed
greater number OF unconstitutional enact
ments than can be found in all the remainder
Of our legislative history. But it was not in
Congress alone that this dangerous tendency
toward the concentration and arbitrary exer-
else of power was exhibited. The Executive
| Department, in all its branches, was equally
Indifferent to the limitations imposed upon 1t
by the constitution and laws, and the Presl-
dent was rapidly becoming what Patrick Hen
ry predicted he would be, ian American King.
So arrogant and ntolerant was this spirit OF en-
croachment upon the reserved rights OF the
| States and people, that the conservative ele-
ments in the country spontaneously combined
to resist it, and the consequence was that since
| the fourth day OF March, 1873, but one Republic
an House of Representatives has met
at Washington, and in 1876 large
majority of the popular vote was cast
| for the Democratic candidates for President
and Vice-President. 1t is, perhaps, not going
| too far to say that If the Republican party had
! not been deprived of power in the popular
branch OF the Legislative department, and il
! the warning OF 1876 had not been given by the
people, our federative system of government
would have been by this time substantially
overthrow, and the right of local selfgovern
ment, which lies at the very foundation OF our
free institutions, would have been confined to
the narrowest possible limits.
It is an indisputable historical fact that the
constitution OF the United States was adopted
and the Union formed under it by the people o.
the several States, each political community
acting separately and independently OF al
others, through its own State organization. i
is equally undeniable that the Government
thus created by the people OF the severa
States was one of defined and limited powers
and that all powers not delegated to it, nor pro
hibited to the States, were, in the language o
the constitution itself, reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people," This brie
statement comprehends the whole Democratic
theory OF constitutional government in thi'
country, and it must be evlden
to every one who seriously reflects upol
the subject that it is the only theory upol
which the orderly and harmonious exer
else OF State and Federal authority over tn
same territory and people can be permanent!
maintained. Conflicts of authority necessaril.
produce idisselsion and strife, and it IS there
fore essential to the repose OF the country tina
the division of power between the State AM
Federal governments shall be scrupul0usl.
observed by the party in control OF the Admin
istration. The Importance OF such pollc
was never greater or more apparent than now
After long period Of uncertainty and unres
the whole country has finally adjusted itsel
to the new conditions imposed by the war. an
all that appears to be needed to insure an err
OF great industrial and commercial prosperit
is continued assurance that political and sec
tional controversies will not be permitted t
disturb the pursuits Of the people. TIL
present Democratic Administration, instea
OF depressing business and arresting the deve
opment of our sources, as was predicted ma
inspired feeling of confidence and secul
ity that did not exist before for more than
/ quarter of century, and in every part
the Union but more especially in tn
South capital has been invested, commerce.
relations have been established, and large el
, terprises have been projected upon the 1ait
GnaL no lurulCr HARSH VI cAIEdOlulA1Ay PoAAe
cal measures would be adopted or attempted.
Unless all the present indications are d.
ceptive, the return of the Republican party t
power would be Immediately followed by tn
introduction of propositions still further to e.
tend the supervision of the Federal author
ties over the local and domestic affairs OF tf
people, and by an unnecessary and hurt1ui r.
agitation of race and sectional questions whic
have already been settled upon the precis
terms dictated by itself. Having demonstrate
It's incapacity to deal with the subject by a
tempting the political and social reconstru
ton of the Southcrn States upon the irration
theory that the people who had been slaves
their lives, and who were totally ignorant
the character of our institutions, were the be
4 guardians of our liberties, it now complain
that the newly enfranchised race does not
ercise the power conferred upon it; and upt
, this provocation the country Is threa
ened with renewal Of the strife whit
, all patriotic citizens had hoped wi
ended forever Very little, If any, dire
evidence is produced to prove that the COLOR
} vote in the South is improperly suppressed
controlled, but the returns OF State and Co
pressional elections are exhibited, shoWli
that only small portion of the total vote
4 the State or district was actually cast, al
| then 1t is assumed, without other testimon
that violence or intimidation has prevent
the negro from exercising the rig
o of suffrage. But, unfortunately
n the agitators, the figures they produ
show exclusively that thousands
= white Democrats failed to vote at the sar
r elections, and their absence from the pc
must also be accounted for. The truth is, tn
the failure of both races to vote is attriout
to the same causes, and unless the Republic
|, PARTY is prepared to adopt compulsory suhras
O il will find its efforts to remove the prese
= ground Of complaint as fruitless as its or
ipal attempt to secure permanent ascenden
: In the South by enfranchising the negro.
= That there are individual and isolated cas-